Joining the Tenth Circuit, the Ninth Circuit also has held that chapter 13 trustees are not paid their fees when cases are dismissed before confirmation. The identical issue was argued on February 15 before the Second Circuit.
In short order, we’ll have either unanimity or a split of circuits. A split will give rise to an issue worthy of a grant of certiorari by the Supreme Court.
Notably, the Ninth Circuit’s opinion on June 12 adopted reasoning in an amicus brief filed in support of the debtor by the National Consumer Bankruptcy Rights Center and National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.
On an issue where there is little authority and the lower courts are split, Bankruptcy Judge Beth E. Hanan of Milwaukee decided that a debtor who had amended a plan to increase the duration beyond 60.....
If the law changes, neither judicial estoppel nor law-of-the-case prevents the debtor from objecting to the classification of a claim that was treated as having priority in a confirmed chapter 13 plan.....
On a question where the lower courts are split, Chief Bankruptcy Judge G. Michael Halfenger of Milwaukee decided that the fees paid for a chapter 13 debtor’s counsel must be taken into consideration.....